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The fastball hissed through the wet Midwestern air, like a bullet tearing paper. 102 mph. Shohei Ohtani’s heater wasn’t just coming back, he was revealing himself like thunder.
In the third start of the season, and the first road start in the Los Angeles Dodgers uniforms, the two-way Marvel brought another intentional and efficient performance on the mound against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. This time it wasn’t just a glimpse. It was a clear and expanded view of what was coming.
Two innings. 1 hit. I’ll take a step. One strikeout. 27 pitches.
Short and surgical, once more.
This was more than just another chapter on Otani’s comeback tour. For the first time since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery and missed out on everything in 2024 as a pitcher, Otani has had multiple innings. And he did it with a full weapon of calm, pace, and the weapon that guessed the Royals.
In a season full of anticipation, this outing felt like the first page of a new book. And the Dodgers may be cautious all year round and finally ready to turn that page.
Otani attacked from the first pitch of the game (a fastball of 95 mph in the zone). There’s no hesitation. There is no rust. Just pure intention. He faced the Royals’ pinnacle with gentle commands that corroborated the moment, mixing sweepers, cutters, and devastating splitters that fade away like they were falling off a cliff.
On the final pitch of the first inning, he unleashed a 102 mph four-seamer, quickly becoming a double play at the end of the inning. Over innings. The crisis avoided. Duggout let out a breath.
At the second bottom he settled down. They jump out, strike out, and line up. It was easy 1-2-3 innings with just 14 pitches. His outing is over. His day is over. Another box was checked back to his journey as a full-time starting pitcher.
The player, already hit 29 home runs this season, was a slow IV to return to the mound to lead the National League and send statcast machines to overdrive every night. Bullying. Once here. There was 18 pitches. However, with each of their outings, the painting becomes sharper. The unicorn approaches unleashing his full power.
Fear the pitcher out of the box, then leave the next inning and terrorize the batter out of the rubber. A person who redefines the meaning of becoming a modern baseball player. The person who bends the game to his will.
The Dodgers are still careful. Otani’s pitch count remains at the cap. His appearance was planned. He hasn’t been released yet, but the string is long. And with every outing, his confidence grows. The same goes for possibilities.
Imagine October in Los Angeles.
Starting from the mound of the NLDS or NLCS game 1, they holl to lead off the bottom half of the inning. Or perhaps he’ll come out of the bullpen at the top of the Die or Die Game 7, 9th. Change the game from both sides of the ball so no one else can do it.
That’s my dream.
And now it’s beginning to feel authentic.
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